10 Tips For Packing Like a Minimalist

Packing and especially packing as minimally as possible has definitely been something I've challenged myself to do whenever planning for a trip. The last time I made a video on this, I got a ton of suggestions, some of which I've never heard before and were really great. So my goal with this video is to create a list of some of the best tips that I've come across that have helped me pack more efficiently, minimally, and of course as intentionally as possible. But first, if you're new to my channel, thank you for stopping by. Here we talk about minimalism, frugal living, tech, and things of that nature. So if that sounds good to you and you end up liking the video, be sure to like and please steal the subscribe button's ancestral Valyrian steel sword and then melt it down. Let's get started. Try for one bag. It's no secret that I've always been an advocate for traveling with one bag. Unless you're going on a several month trip, I think one bag is very doable for most people. In my experience, one bag travel has led to less literal baggage, usually less fees, and always less of a headache. And even if traveling with one bag seems completely out of the question, some of the tips in this video will definitely make it seem like much more of a realistic thing. And now quickly for the sponsored part of this video, while also showing why I think the Bellroy Transit is the best single bag travel backpack I've ever used. This exact backpack has served as my work backpack, camera bag when I'm going somewhere to record, as well as my dedicated solo bag for travel. And the two main things that make this my favorite bag for travel are its durability and pocket structure. It's made from high quality recycled water-resistant material and is extremely durable. As far as pocket structure goes, my favorite thing to take advantage of is how it like this. This makes it super convenient to access whether I'm actually packing and putting things in here or taking them out. It also has these smaller features like a dedicated water bottle pocket, as well as this net pocket on the inside to keep some things from moving around. I'll have a link for this exact backpack down in the description box, as well as a discount code off your entire order on Bellroy's website. And of course, thanks again to Bellroy for sponsoring this video. Roll items. I feel like most people are already aware that rolling clothes maximizes efficiency, but it should still be mentioned. I know that there are correct ways to roll clothes that keep them from getting wrinkled and fit more perfectly in my backpack, but my philosophy has usually been to just make it as compact as possible to maximize space. This means my shirts, pants, socks, and undergarments all get rolled and packed in the same way. Something I haven't actually tried myself, but seems like it might be useful in some scenarios, is utilizing one of those vacuum sealed bags. But even with those, I don't see it making too much of a difference against just rolling clothes. Digitize whatever possible. And this is a rule I like to live by pretty much with every aspect of my life, whether it's traveling or anything else. But when it does come to traveling, I've found that digitizing whatever I'm able to can make quite a bit of difference in terms of things I have to carry and organize. And it's not the smallest things contribute to a lot of weight, but digitizing things like itineraries, boarding passes, transit passes, or even books for the flight can really cut down on those things I may have to carry. I definitely recommend considering what physical things you have on you that can be digitized. Use a packing cube. A packing cube has to be overall my favorite travel item I've ever used. And a packing cube is literally a cube that compresses after packing it. And I think the best part about leaving this in my backpack when traveling is that it keeps all my clothes in place, keeps them more compact, and I'm able to move all my clothes at one time without accidentally unraveling them. The one I use has a few additional pockets that I use for toiletries and things like that. But a couple lesser known benefits of a packing cube I didn't realize until after I started using one, were things like being able to separate my dirty clothes from clean clothes, as well as evenly distribute the weight in my backpack. Overall, I think a And whenever I'm considering buying something, I try to imagine multiple scenarios where it might be useful. I found that to be a little bit more complicated when focused on travel specific items, but one thing that I did find was this hygiene bag that I've had forever. I use it to keep toiletries as well as some valuables and even food in here stored deep at the bottom of my backpack. The general idea is that when I'm packing, I try to consider how each and every item may be used for a different purpose that it might not have been intended to be used. Choose lighter clothing. Obviously, this will vary drastically depending on the trip being planned. I know from personal experience, traveling with lighter shirts or jackets or pants is always what I'm the most comfortable in when on the move. I do have this one t-shirt from 10,000 that's called the Versatile T because it's that lightweight material and it's proved to be my favorite shirt that I had on my last trip. And I know it's probably very American to wear gym clothes when you're not actually working out, but hey, I'm American. Wear the bulkier items. And if packing exclusively light items just isn't an option, I found that wearing the bulky items is just the best way to save space in my bag, obviously. Once I get to wherever I'm going with the bulkier items, which is just usually a thicker jacket in my case, it'll get tied to the back of backpack or left behind whenever I don't need to use it. And I know for me, there's really no way to travel with just one backpack and bulky clothes like my hoodie because even rolled up, this thing would easily take up like a third of the backpack. Evaluate what you'll actually use. By taking a few extra moments while packing to just evaluate and consider what I'll actually be using on my trip has saved me a lot of time. Really affected how I packed for my most recent trip. Remember when I said it would be a tundra day in hell when I didn't bring my camera on a trip internationally? Well, it was when we went to Portugal. At the very last moment, I decided to pass on bringing all of my camera stuff because I really just wanted a trip where my girlfriend and I were just enjoying what we were doing. And at the time, I didn't want to think about a shot I wanted to get or just doing something with my camera. And it actually worked out very nicely because the weather wasn't agreeing with us. But it also gave me a lot more room in my bag, saved me a lot of time at TSA, not having my camera with me was really nice because it also helped me live more in the moment. Even a few days before going for the trip, I was dead set on bringing all this stuff. But once I thought about what carrying it around every single day would actually be like, that didn't sound appealing and it didn't align with our itinerary anyways. My point is to evaluate and then re-evaluate everything you're packing, even if in the moment you're 100% sure you want to bring it. Combine what you can. This is a little similar to using multi-purpose items, but still its own tip. Combining or condensing items together can save a lot of space, but it's also just very convenient. For example, I have this travel wallet for my passport that stays put away 100% of the time I'm at home. But when leaving for a trip, I combine my regular wallet and this into one, transferring my ID and the cards I want to bring with me on my trip to this travel wallet. And I understand the risk of having all these things in one place and if I lose this, then I technically lose everything. But that philosophy kind of applies at home too when I'm carrying my regular wallet. Plus, this stays with me on my person literally 100% of the time when I'm traveling. Prioritize mobility. Finally, prioritizing mobility really comes as a result of putting all these into practice. The last thing I want to do when I'm on a trip is feel like I just have a lot of baggage and I have a lot of things I have to remember. And like I said, this is sort of the result of all these tips combined. But could also be the starting point if you're just planning your packing right now. If you're planning one single backpack and just think, how can I make this as mobile as possible? It might be a good starting point to help you pack more condensed and lighter. Don't underestimate the peace of mind and freedom that comes with lighter load. These are just some of the tips that I found to be the most useful when it comes to packing like a minimalist and make traveling much smoother. I'll leave links to some of the things I showed in this video down in the description box, as well as that discount code off your order on Bellroy's website. I recommend checking out this bag as well as everything else. Anyways, as always, I appreciate the time you spent here and I appreciate you watching. If you did like this video and you like this type of content, be sure to like and consider subscribing to my channel. And I'll see you next time.